Synthesis and characterization of a symmetric bis(7-hydroxyflavylium) containing a methyl viologen bridge

A symmetric bis(flavylium) constituted by two 7-hydroxyflavylium moieties linked by a methylviologen bridge was synthesized. The thermodynamic and kinetics of the network of chemical reactions involving bis(flavylium) and the model compound 7-hydroxy-4'-methylflavylium was completely characterized by means of direct and reverse pH jumps (stopped flow) and flash photolysis. Both compounds follow the usual pH-dependent network of chemical reactions of flavylium derivatives. The equilibrium species of the model compound are the flavylium cation (acidic species) and the trans-chalcone (basic species) with an apparent pK'(a)=2.85. In the case of the bis(flavylium) it was possible to characterize by (1)H NMR spectroscopy three species with different degrees of isomerization: all flavylium, flavylium-trans-chalcone, and all trans-chalcone. Representation of the time-dependent mole fraction distribution of these three forms after a pH jump from equilibrated solutions of all-flavylium cation (lower pH values) to higher pH values, shows that formation of trans-chalcone is not completely stochastic (two independent isomerizations), the isomerization of one flavylium showing a small influence on the isomerization of the other. The radical of the methyl viologen bridge is formed upon reduction of the bis(trans-chalcone) with dithionite. The system is reversible after addition of an oxidant in spite of the occurrence of some decomposition.     

Supramolecular structures of Mn2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ complexes containing 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane and aminosalicylate anion

In this study, the synthesis, spectroscopic properties and crystal structures of three new supramolecular compounds named [Mn₂(bpp)₄(H₂O)₄](AS)₄·H₂O (1), [Co₂(bpp)₄(H₂O)₄](AS)₄·H₂O (2) and [Zn(bpp)(AS)₂] (3), have been described, where bpp is 1,3-bis(4-pyridil)propane and AS^?  is aminosalicylate anion. By analysing the similarities between the X-ray powder diffraction results, it has been observed that compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous, exhibiting an orthorhombic system with space group Pccn; for compound 3, another orthorhombic system was observed, with space group Aba2, which displays coordination between the Zn²⁺ metal ion and the aminosalicylate anion; this can be considered the first case in the literature involving the direct coordination to the metal ion. The vibrational spectra of compounds 1 and 2 are very similar. In the Raman spectra, the main bands are observed at ca. 1625 and 1020 cm^? 1, referring to the ^? O–C = O and CC/CN stretching modes of AS^?  and bpp ligands, respectively.     

Transition metal complexes with squarate anion and the pyridyl-donor ligand 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (BPP): Synthesis,crystal structure and spectroscopic investigation

Synthesis, crystal structure and the vibrational spectra of coordination polymers with 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (BPP) and squarate ion ligands and transition metal ions (M = Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) are described. All compounds are isostructural, and the BPP is not coordinated to metal site since it is in cationic form due to protonation of N atoms from pyridyl rings. The metal is coordinated to two squarate ions and two water molecules in an octahedral distorted geometry. The two water molecules are involved in medium hydrogen bonds with squarate ligands and the average of O?O distance is 2.679(3) Å. Squarate ions adopt the 1,3-bis(monodentate) coordination mode bridging two metal centers giving rise to a 2D arrangement with (4,4) topology. The four-member ring is slightly distorted and the M–M distances are respectively 8.024 and 8.111 Å. The cationic form of BPP molecules are located inside of four-member ring cavity, presenting two different orientations, in which one molecule is inverted comparing to another. Vibrational spectra of all compounds are very similar, in agreement to crystal data. In all infrared spectra of the compounds a medium band at 1640 cm⁻¹ is observed, assigned to the in plane deformation mode of NH bond, indicative of the formation of cationic BPP. In the Raman spectra of the investigated compounds is observed a weak band around 1800 cm⁻¹, assigned to the stretching mode of free CO bond, whereas the medium band observed around 1600 cm⁻¹ is tentatively assigned to coordinated CO stretching mode. At last, a very important achievement of this investigation refers to the coordination geometries of all the investigated compounds, which are governed only by the ligands, independently of the different electronic properties of the metal ions.     

A Novel Sensor Based on Manganese azo‐Macrocycle/Carbon Nanotubes to Perform the Oxidation and Reduction Processes of Two Diphenol Isomers

The present work describes the development of a selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor for simultaneous determination of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ), based on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with manganese phthalocyanine azo‐macrocycle (MnPc) adsorbed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Scanning electron microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy were used to characterize the composite material (MnPc/MWCNT) on the glassy carbon electrode surface. The modified electrode showed excellent electrochemical activity towards the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of CC and HQ. On the MnPc/MWCNT/GC electrode, both CC and HQ can generate a pair of quasi‐reversible and well‐defined redox peaks. Under optimized experimental and operational conditions, the cathodic peak currents were linear over the range 1–600 µmol L^?1 for both CC and HQ, with limits of detection of 0.095 and 0.041 µmol L^?1, respectively. The anodic peak currents were also linear over the range 1–600 µmol L^?1 for both CC and HQ, with limits of detection of 0.096 and 0.048 µmol L^?1, respectively. The proposed method was effectively applied for the simultaneous detection of hydroquinone and catechol in water samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by a comparative method described in the literature.     

Screening Brazilian Commercial Gasoline Quality by ASTM D6733 GC and Pattern-Recognition Multivariate SIMCA Chemometric Analysis

The combination of ASTM D6733 gas chromatographic fingerprinting data with pattern-recognition multivariate soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) chemometric analysis provides an original and alternative approach to screening Brazilian commercial gasoline quality in a monitoring program for quality control of automotive fuels. SIMCA was performed on chromatographic fingerprints to classify the quality of the gasoline samples. Using SIMCA, it was possible to correctly classify 94.0% of commercial gasoline samples, which is considered acceptable. The method is recommended for quality-control monitoring. Quality control and police laboratories could employ this method for rapid monitoring.     

Kinetic study of isopropanol dehydration over silicoaluminophosphate catalyst

The catalytic dehydration of isopropanol has been studied over a solid acid silicoaluminophosphate type SAPO-5. The reaction was processed varying the temperature and weight hourly space velocity, using a fixed bed continous flow reactor. The isopropanol undergoes inter- and intramolecular dehydration, forming propylene and isopropyl ether, respectively. Nevertheless, the catalyst was selective to the olefin, with an activation energy of the order of 46.1 kJ/mol.     

Calculation of noise maps around electrical energy substations

This work is aimed at studying the noise caused by the transformers found in electrical substations located in calm areas in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Although the level itself reaching the nearby buildings is not high if compared to other noise sources commonly found in a large city, they produce an annoying noise due to its low frequency tonal components. Two substations and their surroundings have been analyzed and acoustically mapped. The results have shown that some houses receive up to 35 dB(A) near one of the substations, which may led to some discomfort. It has also been noticed that a good planning of a substation, mainly of the firewalls, may help putting the houses under acoustical shadows.